My Google recently searched bar is filled with college names, college board, ACT and SAT prep, and the Common Application.

As dates for submitting applications to colleges draw near, I am still adding and deleting colleges off my list.

While I add colleges to my Common App, crossing my fingers that they do not have supplements, but unfortunately they usually do.

As my list grows and grows I keep looking back and thinking “would I actually ever go to this school?” The answer is usually “no,” and I cross those colleges off my seemingly endless college list.

At the start of my whole college process I was told to apply to as many schools as possible, to increase my admission chances.

As my college process is nearing an end, I realize I do not need to apply to a crazy amount of schools. Three reaches, three likelies, and two or three safeties is plenty.

Apply to schools that you want to go to. Do not apply to a school only because it is a big name school, or because your parents are pressuring you to go to the college they attended.

It is unnecessary to have tons of safety schools and tons of reaches. Save yourself and apply mostly to the colleges you could see yourself being at next year. Go to a school that fits your criteria not someone else’s.

Since I have gone on college tours before, and have attended many college visits that have come to Piedmont, I have a much better idea about the kind of school I am looking for.

I encourage the class of 2014 to reach out and talk to students who are currently at a school they are interested in. Most likely there is a former Piedmont High School student attending the school that they can easily Facebook message or email. Also try to tour as many colleges on your list as possible before applying there.

By doing this the colleges know you are very interested in their school, and you save some time not applying to schools you know you will never attend any way. Saving time during this stressful part of senior year is very crucial, every minute counts.

I understand that we all want that first acceptance letter, but by applying to so many schools just to get in is a waste of time and money. You are also taking a spot away from another student who might have been able to get in but is now denied.

Class of 2014, whatever you may choose to do next year, whether it be college, community college or take a gap year, do it because it is what you want to do. The college process will be over soon. Just think in 40 days we will be second semester seniors. Good luck 2014.